Baa-king mad custody battle! A little girl's tug of love turns Lucy the sheep into piggy in the middle

When a row over a pet sheep got so fierce that four police officers
were called, you'd think those concerned would be feeling a little,
well, sheepish.

Instead the dispute about ownership has intensified and will reach the courts next week.

It began when Bethan Parkinson bought Lucy as a lamb in April last year as a present for her animal-mad daughter Lauren, nine.

But Miss Parkinson, 28, who works as a carer, found that her home in Buckley, North Wales, was not big enough to cope with Lucy on top of their existing menagerie, which included two ponies, four dogs, three cats and two chickens.

So, Miss Parkinson claims, in December last year she asked Joan Glendenning, who runs an animal rescue centre in Buckley, if she would look after Lucy temporarily while they found a bigger home.

Five months later, after the family moved to a 35-acre farm in Dolgellau, North Wales, Miss Parkinson went to collect the sheep. But Miss Glendenning refused to hand Lucy over, claiming the animal had been given to the sanctuary on a permanent basis.

The ensuing row led to four police officers being called to mediate. When Miss Parkinson was able to show a receipt proving she had bought Lucy for £30, the sheep was handed back.